24 Buzzworthy Honey Recipes Worth Getting Your Fingers Sticky For

Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey
Photo: Southern Living

Sticky and satisfying, honey is nature's sweetener. Whether incorporating flavored honey or a spoonful from a natural jar, honey can liven up all kinds of dishes, often without making its presence known. Many of our favorite BBQ dishes boast a dash of honey. Try our Honey BBQ Chicken Wings or Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Tangy Honey Barbecue Sauce for a homemade plate that rivals any BBQ joint. This natural sweetener can also freshen up a simple salad when worked into a vinaigrette. Just give our basic Honey Vinaigrette a whirl to see what we mean.

But we'd be remiss to deny that this sticky stuff dazzles in sweet recipes, too. From upside-down cakes to honey buns, it's the star of many of our favorite treats (our Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie is a top pick for the spring). We've even got a honey cocktail that might knock your socks off. Grab your jar of honey and get ready to cook. Here are some of our best ways to cook with this natural sweetener.

01 of 24

Honey-Glazed Spiced Carrots

Honey Glazed Spiced Carrots
Iain Bagwell

Look for bunches of carrots that are all about the same size so they'll cook evenly. If some are too large, peel the bigger ones and halve them lengthwise before roasting. These honey and spiced carrots will be your new favorite side dish.

02 of 24

Honey Vinaigrette

Honey Vinaigrette
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

This simple Honey Vinaigrette enhances but doesn't overwhelm a dish. It's perfect for a salad or a sandwich. Plus, it only takes five minutes to toss together. Chill until ready to use it.

03 of 24

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings

Honey BBQ Chicken Wings
Photography and Styling: Caitlin Bensel

When you are ready to serve, toss your wings in our honey barbecue sauce to create a delicious combination. You'll be smacking your lips in anticipation of every bite. The sauce is the ideal combination of sweet honey, tangy sauces, and delicious spices.

04 of 24

Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie

Blueberry-Orange Blossom Honey Slab Pie
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Don't let the pretty pie cutouts fool you. Orange blossom honey is the real star in the slab pie. The combination of granulated sugar, honey, and zesty flavors perfectly matches the blueberry filling.

05 of 24

Sausage-Stuffed Honey Buns

sausage stuffed honey buns
Iain Bagwell

Filled with caramelized bits of sausage melted together with honey and brown sugar, these sweet and savory rolls are a must-serve, especially during the holidays. Orange zest adds the perfect amount of tangy flavoring to the honey glaze. These honey buns are great warm or at room temperature.

06 of 24

Blueberry-Honey Upside Down Cake

blueberry honey upside down cake
Antonis Achilleos; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Honey gives this berry-filled cake a lift. Be sure you tilt your pan to coat it evenly with the honey to achieve a full layer of caramelization. Serve with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

07 of 24

Honey-Mustard Baked Salmon with Vegetables

honey mustard baked salmon vegetables
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Christine Keely; Food Styling: Tina Bell Stamos

Upgrade your everyday sheet pan supper with a tangy honey-mustard sauce. It'll give your salmon a flavorful kick. This crunchy and delicious salmon pan supper, coated with a panko breadcrumb crust, will be your new favorite recipe.

08 of 24

Grilled Chicken Sandwich with Tangy Honey Barbecue Sauce

grilled chicken sandwich with honey barbecue sauce
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

While this grilled chicken sandwich is tasty on its own, we prefer it slathered with our Tangy Honey Barbecue Sauce. One taste, and we're sure it will be your new go-to for grilling season. This thick, tangy sauce makes grilled chicken anything but dull. Chill leftover sauce in an airtight container for up to two weeks in the refrigerator.

09 of 24

Chile-Lime-Honey Roasted Peanuts

chile lime honey roasted peanuts
Johnny Autry; Prop and Food Styling: Charlotte L. Autry

Upgrade cocktail hour with this simple, homemade snack. Made with just six ingredients, everyone will enjoy a sweet-and-spicy recipe. Make these Chile-Lime-Honey Roasted Peanuts up to two days in advance and store them in an airtight container for later.

10 of 24

Bee's Knees Honey Cocktail

bees knees honey cocktail
Greg DuPree; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Cat Steele

Just combine, shake, and strain, and you've got a porch-worthy summer cocktail that's sweet and bright with a comforting creaminess thanks to honey syrup. Try substituting lime for the lemon in this recipe, depending on your preferences.

11 of 24

One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken and Rice

One-Pan Hot Honey Chicken
Antonis Achilleos; Prop Styling: Kay E. Clarke; Food Styling: Emily Nabors Hall

These honey-drizzled chicken thighs are the ultimate weeknight dinner. Golden brown chicken thighs, jasmine rice, and fresh spices combine to create a fantastic dish that requires only 20 minutes of active cook time. Garnish with sliced scallions to complete the meal.

12 of 24

Honey-Butter Chicken Skewers

Honey-Butter Chicken Skewers
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Claire Spollen

Honey butter is the simple condiment that helps these chicken skewers shine. Alternate the skewers with chicken and onion pieces for a rich, salty, and sweet dish all at once. Enjoy charred-from-the-grill flavor paired with a sticky-sweet glaze.

13 of 24

Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey

Fried Chicken Biscuits with Rosemary Hot Honey
Southern Living

You can't go wrong with fried chicken biscuits, from tailgates to potlucks. Our Rosemary Hot Honey takes this crowd-favorite over the top. With only three ingredients, you'll want to make extra hot honey to put on everything.

14 of 24

Shrimp with Honey-Garlic Sauce

Shrimp with Honey-Garlic Sauce
Greg DuPree; Food Styling: Rishon Hanners; Prop Styling: Christina Daley

You might not think to pair honey with seafood, but this combination is unexpectedly great. Plus, with only 15 minutes of active cook time, this shrimp recipe will become your new go-to. Make a meal of the shrimp paired with rice and vegetables, or serve on skewers for an appetizer.

15 of 24

Honey-Butter Skillet Corn

honey butter skillet corn in a white skillet
Alison Miksch

Make this side dish any time of the year using frozen corn, which is just as sweet as fresh corn. Pack plenty of green onions or chives into this dish to balance the sweet honey flavors. In just 20 minutes, this skillet dish creates a simple side perfect for summer barbeques or holidays.

16 of 24

Honey-Soy Glazed Pork Chops

Two plates of honey-soy glazed pork chops with broccolini and cremini mushrooms on a table with forks and knives, a glass of water, and small bowls of pepper and sliced scallions.

Victor Protasio, Food Stylist: Ruth Blackburn, Prop Stylist: Lydia Pursell

In about 20 minutes, create a saucy pork chop recipe with sautéed broccolini and mushrooms. It's great for busy families because you can use the leftovers in a Stir-Fried Pork and Noodles recipe for the next day. Keep the cooled pork chops and vegetable mixture in separate airtight containers for up to two days.

17 of 24

Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake

Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake
Photo: Hector Sanchez; Styling: Heather Chadduck Hillegas

Start by pouring honey over a cast-iron skillet to form the base of this Honey-Pineapple Upside-Down Cake. Combine the remaining ingredients into a batter to spread over the pineapple slices. After baking, invert the cake and drizzle with the Honey Glaze.

18 of 24

Grilled Green Tomatoes with Jalapeño-Honey Vinaigrette

Grilled Green Tomatoes with Jalapeño-Honey Vinaigrette
Victor Protasio; Food Styling: Chelsea Zimmer; Prop Styling: Audrey Davis

Add some heat to a traditional tomato salad by topping it with a Jalapeño-Honey Vinaigrette. Grilled tomatoes make this dish ideal for summer parties as a hearty side or even the main dish. Garnish with goat cheese, almonds, and flaky sea salt.

19 of 24

Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs

Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs
Jim Franco

With 30 minutes of hands-on time, these Buttermilk-and-Honey Chicken Kabobs create a tender and juicy dish full of flavor. Leave enough time to soak the chicken in the buttermilk mixture for at least three hours. Serve with lemon halves or Romesco Sauce.

20 of 24

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue

Pumpkin Cheesecake Tart with Honey Swiss Meringue
Jody Horton

The Honey Swiss Meringue adds a sweet topping to this fall-inspired tart. Pumpkin and cheesecake combine in this toasted pecan crust, layered with cream cheese and classic pumpkin filling. Prepare this dish the day before you plan to serve as it requires at least eight to 12 hours of chill time.

21 of 24

Honey-Soy Appetizer Ribs

Honey-Soy Appetizer Ribs
Beth Dreiling Hontzas; Styling: Rose Nguyen

Honey is only one of the flavors in this tangy glaze made with soy sauce, garlic powder, crushed red pepper, and a little sherry. Coat the spareribs before grilling them on medium-high heat. Garnish with sesame seeds or thinly sliced green onions if desired.

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Honeyed Plum Galette

Honeyed Plum Galette
Micah A. Leal

The supple and easy-to-work galette dough helps to make this dessert a casually-made version of pie. Honey and fruit naturally sweeten this dessert with syrupy sweetness from the ripe plums. Adding lemon juice and cardamom helps to brighten and spice this pastry.

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Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey

Citrus Salad with Spiced Honey
Iain Bagwell

Make this fruit salad a day in advance to save time. This citrus and spiced dish complements any dish, from a roast to fish. Toppings include extra virgin olive oil, fresh mint leaves, and sea salt.

24 of 24

Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken

Honey-Apricot-Glazed Chicken
Iain Bagwell

Apricot brandy adds a unique fruity richness to this dish. Pour the brandy into a slow cooker after browning the chicken. After, the combination of honey, mustard, chicken broth, and onions helps flavor the chicken in this hands-off dinner recipe.

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